Carson Peters-Berger, now 18, was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the 2022 killing of his 10-year-old cousin, Lily Peters, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The sentence was imposed on August 26, nearly four years after Lily was found dead near a wooded area. Peters-Berger will be eligible to seek release to extended supervision after serving 25 years. The plea agreement dismissed two additional sexual assault charges and ended a case that had been scheduled for trial.
| 1) | Plea and life sentence |
| 2) | Discovery of Lily Peters |
| 3) | Investigators’ account of the killing |
| 4) | Decision to keep the case in adult court |
| 5) | Case concludes without a jury trial |
Plea and life sentence
Peters-Berger pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide in Chippewa County court on August 26. Steven Gibbs accepted the plea and sentenced him to life in prison. Because he was 14 when Lily was killed, the sentence allows him to seek release to extended supervision after 25 years, rather than requiring him to remain imprisoned for life without that possibility.
The plea agreement dismissed charges of first-degree sexual assault and first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13 resulting in great bodily harm. The agreement resolved the criminal case without the November jury trial that had been expected if the matter proceeded to trial.
Discovery of Lily Peters
Lily Peters was reported missing on the evening of April 24, 2022, after she failed to return home from her aunt’s house in Chippewa Falls. Her bicycle was found near a wooded area, prompting a search of the surrounding location.
Her body was discovered the following morning. Investigators reported that she had injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma to the head. A forensic autopsy later documented evidence of manual strangulation and sexual assault, according to a Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision.
Investigators’ account of the killing
According to the criminal complaint, Peters-Berger told police during an interview on April 26, 2022, that he and Lily had traveled along a trail before he asked her to explore the woods. He said he punched her in the stomach, struck her head with a large stick and strangled her until he believed she was dead.
The appellate court later noted that Peters-Berger told investigators he rode a hoverboard while Lily rode her bicycle. He also said he had already intended to kill and sexually assault her before they left the house. Investigators said he attempted to sexually assault Lily, left the area, then returned after learning she had been reported missing. He allegedly moved her body several feet and covered it with leaves.
Decision to keep the case in adult court
The homicide charge placed the case in adult court from the outset, despite Peters-Berger’s age at the time of the killing. His attorneys later asked the court to transfer the case to juvenile court, arguing that he would not receive adequate mental health treatment in the adult criminal justice system.
After a three-day hearing, Gibbs denied the transfer request in January 2024. The judge found that Peters-Berger had raised valid concerns about treatment but concluded that moving the case to juvenile court would not reflect the seriousness of the alleged crimes. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld that decision in September 2024, ruling that Gibbs had acted within his authority.
Case concludes without a jury trial
The case had been moving toward a November trial before the court scheduled an August 26 hearing to discuss a possible resolution. That hearing resulted in the guilty plea and life sentence, bringing the prosecution to an end without testimony before a jury.
The defense attorneys, Michael Cohen and Alicia Linzmeier, had previously pursued the juvenile-court transfer request. The plea agreement addressed the homicide charge directly while dismissing the two additional charges. Peters-Berger remains subject to the life sentence and may seek extended supervision only after completing the required 25 years.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Peters-Berger pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide. |
| 2 | He received a life sentence and may seek release after 25 years. |
| 3 | Lily Peters was reported missing on April 24, 2022, and found dead the next morning. |
| 4 | The case remained in adult court after state appellate review. |
Summary
The guilty plea and life sentence conclude a case that began with Lily Peters’ disappearance in Chippewa Falls in April 2022. The court accepted the homicide plea after prior litigation over whether Peters-Berger should be tried as a juvenile. The sentence provides the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years, while the dismissed charges were resolved through the plea agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sentence did Carson Peters-Berger receive?
He was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree intentional homicide.
When can Peters-Berger seek release?
He will be eligible to seek release to extended supervision after serving 25 years.
Why was the case handled in adult court?
The homicide charge placed the case in adult court. A later request to transfer it to juvenile court was denied, and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld that decision.
